Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is hard to discuss the Order of Business when we cannot even have order in the Chamber. This issue is of serious importance. Thousands of euro of debt hang over each citizen of the State. Taxes and the provision of public services are at stake. A generation is at tipping point. We need more than shadow boxing on this issue. We need a real debate, provided by the Government, on this issue.

The Cabinet will meet today to discuss the promissory note deal with the ECB. The Minister is right. The country knows the Government was engaged in crisis management last night. Today is different and the Government can design what happens. There is space today to have a debate. If space cannot be found for a debate today it could be held tomorrow.

It is also important that finance spokespeople have a proper briefing on this occasion, and not the microwave walk-through that happened yesterday. It did not serve the debate or the country well.

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